Depression Information
(From the MedLinePlus)

What is depression?

Depression is a serious medical condition. In contrast to the normal emotional experiences of sadness, loss, or passing mood states, clinical depression is persistent and can interfere significantly with an individual's ability to function. There are three main types of depressive disorders: major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness).

Symptoms and types of depression

Symptoms of depression include sad mood, loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed, change in appetite or weight, difficulty sleeping or oversleeping, physical slowing or agitation, energy loss, feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt, difficulty thinking or concentrating, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

A diagnosis of major depressive disorder is made if a person has 5 or more of these symptoms and impairment in usual functioning nearly every day during the same two-week period. Major depression often begins between ages 15 to 30 but also can appear in children.

Prevention

What can be done to lower the risk of depression? How can people cope? There are a few practical steps you can take. One way to prepare for major changes in life, such as retirement or the death of family or friends, is to keep and maintain friendships over the years. Friends can help ease the loneliness of losing a spouse.

You can also develop interests or hobbies, keep the mind and body active, and stay in touch with family to help limit the effects of depression. Being physically fit and eating a balanced diet are ways to help avoid illnesses that can bring on disability or depression. Follow the doctor's directions on using medicines to lower the risk of depression as a drug side effect.

Treatment

Antidepressant medications are widely used, effective treatments for depression. 6 Existing antidepressants influence the functioning of certain chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters.

Related Sites:

For more on postpartum depression, click here.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

The National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association

The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill

The National Mental Health Association

The American Psychological Association

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